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D E Malone

Publications and source records attributed to D E Malone.

51 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Ablation of the cystic duct and gallbladder: clinical observations.

The cystic duct and gallbladder were ablated in eight patients with acute gallbladder disease who had been treated with minicholecystostomy instead of cholecystectomy because of multiple risk factors. First, endoluminal transcatheter radio-frequency electrocoagulation of the cystic duct was performed under fluoroscopic control, which resulted in complete occlusion in all eight patients. Next, the mucosa of the isolated gallbladder was sclerosed with 95% ethanol and 3% sodium tetradecyl sulfate in one to four sessions; no analgesics were required. The gallbladder volumes of all patients, estimated by means of ultrasound, were 1.5-22 cm3 (average, less than 10 cm3) after a mean follow-up period of 5 months. One patient died of a cerebrovascular accident 15 months after sclerotherapy. In all surviving patients, the gallbladder fistulas are dry and obliterated. These early clinical data indicate that electrocoagulation permits reliable, safe obliteration of the human cystic duct. The authors believe that sclerotherapy of the isolated gallbladder is feasible without toxic effects but that their treatment needs adjustment to achieve complete ablation of the gallbladder mucosa in a shorter period and in all patients.

Aged↗

Routine liver function tests and serum amylase determinations after biliary lithotripsy: are they necessary?

Shock-wave-induced soft-tissue damage after biliary extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy (BESWL) has been reported. Every patient treated in Vancouver has, therefore, had liver function tests and serum amylase levels measured before and within 6 days after BESWL. All patients had symptomatic cholecystolithiasis with normal pre-BESWL biochemistry. Analysis of 311 patients after treatment with the Siemens Lithostar unit showed elevation of one or more laboratory value in 19% (60/311). Serum aspartate transaminase level was most frequently abnormal (38 cases). The majority of abnormalities were mild, less than two times normal levels. Clinically significant complications occurred in five patients (three pancreatitis, one cholecystitis, one common bile duct obstruction); four of these occurred 1 week or more after treatment. The results of routine laboratory tests could not be used to predict complications. No correlation was seen between abnormal values and number of shock waves administered or peak shock-wave pressure. Of 112 patients surveyed at the time of post-BESWL enzyme measurement, 49 (44%) reported a degree of pain, which was severe in eight cases. Presence of severe pain correlated strongly (p less than .001) with abnormal laboratory findings, however not with the degree of abnormality. As results of these laboratory tests are nonspecific, have not been shown to correlate with the degree of severity of BESWL-induced tissue damage, and do not predict complications, the tests are of little value in the absence of clinical signs and symptoms. These conclusions, however, apply only to the Siemens Lithostar Plus with patients treated in the steep left posterior oblique position. Cost savings can be expected if routine post-BESWL biochemical tests are abandoned.

Adolescent↗

Interventional radiologic alternatives to cholecystectomy.

It has been estimated that 20 million people in the United States have gallstone disease. The choice of the optimal management strategy for a patient with symptomatic gallstones in the 1990s will take into account the clinical status of the patient, the characteristics of the gallstones, and the patient's preference. Only patients whose doctors understand the advantages and disadvantages of the newer methods can make properly informed choices. When interventional radiologic alternatives to cholecystectomy are being contemplated, one approach is to first consider the patient's clinical presentation (acute or nonacute) and then their risk of death after cholecystectomy (low or high). Figure 5 shows an algorithmic approach to the management of gallbladder stones based on this concept. This algorithm also can be used as a framework for discussion of treatment options with any individual patient.

Cholecystectomy↗

Biliary lithotripsy: early observations in 106 patients. Work in progress.

One hundred six patients underwent extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy for cholelithiasis. Of these, 28 patients underwent cholangiographically guided lithotripsy for bile duct stones to assist nonoperative stone removal by endoscopic or radiologic intervention. Fragmentation occurred in 20 of 28 cases (71%) with an average of two lithotripsy sessions. Hemobilia was observed in four patients (14%) for a 24-hour period. Seventy-eight of the 106 were outpatients with symptomatic cholecystolithiasis with one to five calculi who underwent cholecystographic or ultrasound-(US) guided shock wave lithotripsy as definitive therapy. US examination showed stone fragmentation in 86% of cases. With an average of 1.6 treatment sessions and 4,750 shocks, fragments were 4 mm or smaller in 46% of patients. Nine percent of patients had no fragments after an average of 10 weeks, but long-term follow-up is not yet available. Two patients developed acute pancreatitis attributable to fragment passage and one patient acute cholecystitis, likely due to cystic duct obstruction by a fragment.

Adult↗

Soft-tissue effects of biliary extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy in swine.

This study investigates the soft-tissue effects of biliary extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (BESWL) using a recently developed lithotripter, which consists of an electromagnetic shockwave generator and an integrated ultrasonic targeting system. Sixteen swine, evenly divided into four groups, underwent BESWL. One group had one BESWL session targeted on the gallbladder and another group had two BESWL sessions targeted on the gallbladder. The third group had one BESWL session targeted on implanted gallbladder stones and the fourth group had one BESWL session targeted on the region of the common bile duct (CBD). Half of each group were sacrificed on the day of lithotripsy and half 1 week later. Post-mortem examinations were performed. Each implanted gallstone had fragmented. There were no findings attributable to BESWL in 11 animals. Three animals had pulmonary haemorrhagic spots (the largest was 10 mm in diameter) and one had a submucosal CBD petechia; these findings were attributable to BESWL. In two animals, microscopic haemorrhage associated with bronchopneumonia (usually present in our pig population) was more prominent than usual. This was possibly attributable to BESWL. The swine's deep posterior costophrenic sulcus makes it difficult to avoid the lung base during BESWL in swine. We conclude that this BESWL device can fragment gallstones without causing clinically significant soft-tissue damage.

Animals↗

Is routine chest radiography required with biliary lithotripsy?

Routine pre- and postlithotripsy chest radiographs are usually obtained on patients undergoing biliary extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy. To evaluate the need for this procedure, we reviewed posteroanterior and lateral chest radiographs obtained before and after 107 lithotripsy sessions in 75 patients. In each case, posteroanterior and lateral chest radiographs were obtained as a routine baseline (not to detect incidental abnormalities) before the patient was scheduled for lithotripsy. Posteroanterior and lateral chest radiographs were obtained routinely after each lithotripsy session. Seventy-five patients had 107 lithotripsy sessions on a second-generation lithotripter. Sixty had gallbladder stones, five had cystic duct stones, and 10 had common duct stones. All chest radiographs were reviewed by a chest radiologist. No pulmonary or pleural changes occurred after lithotripsy. We conclude that routine pre- and postlithotripsy chest radiographs are not warranted in patients undergoing biliary lithotripsy.

Cholelithiasis↗

Accuracy of sonography for determining the number and size of gallbladder stones before and after lithotripsy.

Accurate knowledge of gallstone number and size is required both for selection of patients for treatment by lithotripsy and for the evaluation of therapeutic results. We measured the accuracy of sonography for use in counting and measuring gallstones and gallstone fragments in a three-part study. First, specimen gallstones of known size were examined in a water bath with four different sonographic units. Second, seven pigs with surgically implanted gallstones had sonography before and after lithotripsy. Finally, we compared the measurements made on the preoperative sonogram with postoperative surgical specimen measurements in 27 patients who underwent cholecystectomy. In vitro gallstone measurement errors were 1.0 mm or less with each of the four sonographic units. In the animal experiments, all prelithotripsy measurements were highly accurate (+/- 1.1 mm). The animal postlithotripsy measurements were similarly accurate in five of seven cases, but substantial errors were made in the remaining two cases. In precholecystectomy patients, the sonographic stone counts and measurements were accurate in all 16 patients who had fewer than six stones. In all 11 patients with six or more stones, we correctly determined with sonography that at least six stones were present, but in only four of 11 cases was the largest stone measured accurately (+/- 2.0 mm). We conclude that sonography can be used accurately to count and measure gallstones when fewer than six stones are present, can reliably determine when six or more stones are present, and, in many cases, can determine the size of the largest fragments remaining after lithotripsy.

Animals↗

Computed tomography of the liver after biopsy.

Angiographic studies suggest that needle biopsy of the liver is invariably associated with some degree of haemorrhage (Wallace et al., 1972). The appearances of the liver on computed tomography after percutaneous biopsy have not been described. As an aid to the interpretation of scans in patients referred because of clinical complications of biopsy, we performed unenhanced computed tomography of the liver in 30 patients within 72 h of biopsy. None of these patients would ordinarily have been referred for computed tomography. Only one of the scans showed a parenchymal abnormality attributable to biopsy. We conclude that post-biopsy changes on unenhanced computed tomography scans of the liver are uncommon and that the needle tracks and vascular anomalies commented on by angiographers are not usually shown.

Adult↗

Peptic ulcer in rheumatoid arthritis--intrinsic or related to drug therapy?

The reported incidence of peptic ulcer disease (PUD) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is higher than that of the general population. Unusual susceptibility to PUD in RA, independent of therapy, has been suggested. To compare RA patients with others who had similar drug exposure but no known predisposition to PUD, 120 patients hospitalized for treatment of severe arthritis (65 with RA, 55 with osteoarthritis) were assessed by questionnaire for PUD history, drug history and other relevant variables. The relationship of PUD to sex distribution, smoking, alcohol consumption and anti-inflammatory therapy followed expected patterns. We found high but similar PUD rates in RA and osteoarthritis (OA) patients (RA 15%, OA 18%). This suggests that a common factor (probably drugs) is responsible. We feel that the documented high incidence of PUD in RA is most probably related to drug therapy. Available methods cannot determine if PUD ever occurs as a primary manifestation of RA.

Aged↗

Portal venous gas: detection by gray-scale and Doppler sonography in the absence of correlative findings on computed tomography.

Two cases are described in which portal venous gas (PVG) was detectable by ultrasound, but the liver appeared normal on computed tomography (CT). The finding of PVG was associated with ischemic bowel in one case but was a benign finding in the other case. The gray-scale and Doppler ultrasound findings associated with PVG are described. This case report illustrates two key points. First, ultrasound may detect gas within the portal venous system when CT is negative. Second, when PVG is detected on ultrasound, urgent clinical assessment followed by contrast-enhanced CT is indicated to assess for associated intestinal ischemia.

Aged↗

Multiple gastric polyps in familial amyloid polyneuropathy.

Amyloid masses of the gastrointestinal tract are very rare. A previously undescribed finding of multiple gastric polyps due to systemic amyloidosis is outlined in a patient with familial amyloid polyneuropathy. The relevant literature pertaining to gastric amyloidosis and mucosal masses is reviewed. Amyloidosis should be included in the differential diagnosis of target lesions in the stomach.

Amyloid↗